According to a new report, Mario Williams' days with the Bills may be numbered. He signed with them before the 2012 season.

According to a new report, Mario Williams' days with the Bills may be numbered. He signed with them before the 2012 season.

Photo: Don Juan Moore / Getty Images

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Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams (94) stands on the sidelines at the end of his team's 50-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Toronto. (AP Photo/Mike Groll) less

Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams (94) stands on the sidelines at the end of his team's 50-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, in Toronto. (AP Photo/Mike ... more

Photo: Mike Groll / AP

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Mario Williams played his last game as a Texan in 2011.

Mario Williams played his last game as a Texan in 2011.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Reliant rocked when Mario Williams was at his best.

Reliant rocked when Mario Williams was at his best.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Mario Williams suffered a torn pectoral muscle that ended his season in 2011.

Mario Williams suffered a torn pectoral muscle that ended his season in 2011.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Wade Phillips and Mario Williams was a combination the Texans were excited about.

Wade Phillips and Mario Williams was a combination the Texans were excited about.

Photo: Nick de la torre / Houston Chronicle

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Mario Williams was always generous to the fans.

Mario Williams was always generous to the fans.

Photo: Steve Campbell / Houston Chronicle

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Fans came up with a nickname for an appropriate Mario Williams.

Fans came up with a nickname for an appropriate Mario Williams.

Photo: James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle

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Mario Williams met the troops during a stint with the USO.

Mario Williams met the troops during a stint with the USO.

Photo: Dave Gatley / USO

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Mario Williams was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2008 and 2009. He started the 2008 game.

Mario Williams was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2008 and 2009. He started the 2008 game.

Photo: Nick de la Torre / Houston Chronicle

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Injuries plagued Mario Williams in 2010 and 2011.

Injuries plagued Mario Williams in 2010 and 2011.

Photo: James Nielsen / Houston Chronicle

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Mario Williams took part in many charitable efforts.

Mario Williams took part in many charitable efforts.

Photo: Mayra Beltran / Houston Chronicle

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Mario Williams was known for his clutch sacks.

Mario Williams was known for his clutch sacks.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Mario Williams scored the cover of ESPN The Magazine.

Mario Williams scored the cover of ESPN The Magazine.

Photo: ESPN PR

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Mario Williams is a two-time ESPN The Magazine cover star.

Mario Williams is a two-time ESPN The Magazine cover star.

Photo: ESPN PR

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Fans wanted the Texans to draft Vince Young in 2006 over Mario Williams.

Fans wanted the Texans to draft Vince Young in 2006 over Mario Williams.

Photo: David Phillip / AP

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Mario Williams had a solid rookie season with 47 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.

Mario Williams had a solid rookie season with 47 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Mario Williams is greeted in town.

Mario Williams is greeted in town.

Photo: Jessica Kourkounis / For the Chronicle

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Mario Williams was the Texans first pick in 2006.

Mario Williams was the Texans first pick in 2006.

Photo: Nick de la torre / Houston Chronicle

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The pick of Mario Williams by the Texans was not a popular one since fans wanted local star Vince Young instead.

The pick of Mario Williams by the Texans was not a popular one since fans wanted local star Vince Young instead.

Photo: Bill Baptist / Getty

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Bob McNair welcomes his No. 1 draft pick.

Bob McNair welcomes his No. 1 draft pick.

Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle

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Mario Williams was considered an elite prospect going into the 2006 NFL Draft.

Mario Williams was considered an elite prospect going into the 2006 NFL Draft.

Photo: Dave Einsel / AP

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At the NFL combine before the draft, Mario Williams ran a 4.66 and a 4.73 forty-yard dash. He also bench-pressed 225 pounds 35 times and had a 40½ vertical leap.

At the NFL combine before the draft, Mario Williams ran a 4.66 and a 4.73 forty-yard dash. He also bench-pressed 225 pounds 35 times and had a 40½ vertical leap.

Photo: Jeff Zelevansky / AP

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Mario Williams played college football at North Carolina State University.

Mario Williams played college football at North Carolina State University.

Photo: Bob Leverson / tsn

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Solomon: Texans' loss of Williams stings, but it's not that damaging

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When Mario Williams was announced as the Texans’ No. 1 pick in 2006, fans at the team’s draft party booed.

The furor had faded somewhat when soon after, the city held a rally – “Mario Williams Day” it was dubbed in an official proclamation – to honor the then 21-year-old defensive end, who was supposed to lead the Texans’ transformation from losers to winners.

As if a six-year, $54 million contract from the Texans wasn’t enough, Williams received a Texas-sized welcome from the raucous crowd, a gift certificate to Frenchy’s Chicken, a huge Stetson from then-Mayor Bill White and no boos.

Thursday, Buffalo stole Williams away from the Texans with a better offer, one he couldn’t refuse: an estimated $100 million deal with $50 million of it guaranteed.

The boos are back.

Many are upset that Williams recently said becoming the highest paid defensive player in NFL history wasn’t important to him.

Then he went out and became the highest paid defensive player in NFL history.

His departure is a shot in the gut to the Texans, who feel they are primed to be a Super Bowl contender. Why wouldn’t Williams want to be part of that? I’d estimate he has around 100 million reasons.

The Texans did want to keep Williams – losing one of your more talented players isn’t how you improve as a team. Texans general manager Rick Smith tried to talk him into staying, but money talks. While the Bills’ bills were shouting, the Texans’ dollars, thanks to their salary cap situation, could do little more than whisper.

Don’t overstate the loss

There’s a temptation to whimper in a week when the Texans could lose another unrestricted free agent, center Chris Myers, a player the Texans need even more than Williams.

Still, the angst over losing Williams is a bit overblown. With another strong draft, a couple of veteran additions, a healthy Matt Schaub and a little luck, they should be OK.

Perhaps Williams will lead Buffalo to the Super Bowl in the coming years, but he never led the Texans to anything. He often played through injuries and at times was great, but he never delivered on the promise that made him the top overall pick.

He was supposed to crush Peyton Manning, pound Vince Young and turn the Jaguars into whimpering kittens. Superman, as denoted by the large tattoo on his massive right bicep, was supposed to be super.

He didn’t and he wasn’t.

Since Williams’ arrival, the Texans have indeed become winners – two wins the season before he arrived, 10 last season. It’s just a nice coincidence.

Williams is far from responsible for the improvement.

Winning without him

In 2011, the Texans set a record for victories, advanced to the postseason for the first time and won their initial playoff game. Williams, sidelined for the season with a torn pectoral muscle suffered in the fifth game, was little more than a cheerleader.

Perhaps Houston would have advanced further had Williams not been injured. And perhaps it would advance further in coming years if it broke the bank to retain him.

That is what Buffalo is betting on. Potential is expensive.

Mario Williams has always looked better than he played. He’s long and lean, yet muscularly defined, and at 6-6, 290 pounds is faster than men his size are supposed to be.

Texans head coach Gary Kubiak once said William has “freakish talent.”

Former Texans general manager Charley Casserly drove the Texans’ selection of Williams over the more popular choices of Reggie Bush and Young, the hometown hero.

The first time he saw Williams play, he returned to tell owner Bob McNair that he had never seen a player quite like Williams.

What did Williams do in that game? He had only three assisted tackles and half a sack.

Williams’ per-game averages as a professional? Three tackles and just over half a sack.

Yet the Bills will pay him about as much in the next three seasons as the Texans did for the previous six.

That’s a great deal for Williams, but it wasn’t for the Texans. One hundred million dollars is a steep bet for potential.